ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), founded in 1922, is to conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Working under the direction of the Clean Water Program Director, the Salt Watch Campaign Manager will manage the League’s Salt Watch monitoring program. Salt Watch was launched in 2018 as a new crowdsourced monitoring program – where test strips are sent to thousands of volunteers across the Snow Belt to measure the impact of road salt on rivers, lakes and streams. The Salt Watch Campaign Manager will have the opportunity to grow this program with new, intensive advocacy campaigns in select communities across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Managing this program includes volunteer and partner recruitment and retention, test kit creation and distribution, and developing advocacy campaigns to engage volunteers in collaboration with local partners to facilitate smarter salting in local communities. This is a full-time position based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Salt Watch Campaign Management

• In collaboration with the Clean Water Program Director and other IWLA staff, develop, implement, and adapt a strategic campaign plan for Salt Watch.
• Recruit, equip and support Izaak Walton League members, partner organizations and community volunteers to serve as Salt Watch partners and volunteers in existing and new Salt Watch locations.
• Proactively support the development and implementation of localized Salt Watch campaigns in communities in which volunteers use data they collect to advocate for smarter road salt practices.
• Coordinate and conduct in-person and online events in key locations across the U.S. to promote the Salt Watch program and facilitate new partnerships and volunteer participation.
• Develop advocacy resources for Salt Watch volunteers and partners to utilize when a road salt pollution problem is detected, including sample letters to government representatives and media kits.
• Manage the timely purchasing, collating and distribution of Salt Watch kits nationally (including managing coordinator staff to assist with kit distribution).
• Communicate regularly and frequently with Salt Watch volunteers, watershed organizations and others to support local Salt Watch efforts and foster an interconnected network of Salt Watch volunteers and partners.
• Establish formal partnerships with participating organizations for future collaboration and joint fundraising.
• Assist with Salt Watch program fundraising, including drafting grant proposals, identifying potential funders, and developing budgets.

Data Management

• Ensure Salt Watch data is compiled from Water Reporter and other sources on a weekly basis.
• Input data into database (the Clean Water Hub) and ArcGIS to analyze trends, monitoring sites and frequency of monitoring.
• Support volunteers with data management, including how to input and manage data in Water Reporter.
• Support volunteer use of the Clean Water Hub to communicate with the public, policymakers and the media about water quality information collected by volunteers.

Communications

• Develop content for IWLA website, social media, and publications, including Outdoor America magazine.
• Serve as liaison between League members and chapters; other volunteers; state agencies responsible for water quality, public health, and natural resource management; and the national office of the IWLA.
• Collaborate with the IWLA communications department to proactively engage print, broadcast and other media using Salt Watch data on a local, state and/or regional scale.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, natural resources management, natural sciences, or related field.
• Experience meeting with, mobilizing and organizing diverse partners, including local, state, and federal governments, watershed groups and community groups.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing grassroots advocacy campaigns.
• Two years of experience directly coordinating volunteers engaged in water quality monitoring or other citizen science activities.
• Interest and demonstrated experience in environmental education, volunteer management, community outreach and water quality assessment.
• Experience with public speaking and providing engaging training workshops online and in person.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to organize and manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, or other database/mapping platforms to organize, visualize, manipulate and understand complex data sets.
• Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of staff, members, volunteers, and colleague organizations.
• Experience with social media (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
• Possess a valid driver’s license and own a car for travel.
• Ability and willingness to travel including for multiple days consecutively and overnight.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work involves both physical exertion and sedentary activities and includes work that involves exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain.
• Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, push, and pull, and to lift up to 50 pounds, in the performance of both office-related and field duties.
• Must be able to operate office equipment.
• Must have vision and hearing corrected to be able to perform essential job functions.
• Must be able to maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.
• Must be able to perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position. Salary is between $50,000 and $52,000, commensurate with experience, with an excellent health care, leave, retirement, and other benefits package. Compensation will be dependent on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.